How To Teach A Child To Wipe: An Easy Step By Step Guide
Have you ever wondered how to teach a child to wipe correctly? Hygiene is a key element in making sure children reach their full potential. Learn how to teach a child to wipe correctly using these helpful visuals. You can download the potty training and wiping visuals for free at the bottom of this blog post.
HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE FREE POTTY TRAINING AND WIPING VISUALS
All you need to do is follow these three steps to access the printable page for potty training and wiping:
- Sign up to receive the emails from Your Therapy Source. If you already get our emails, you can enter your email in the box. You will not be subscribed twice.
- You will be redirected to download the PDF format file of the step-by-step visuals.
- Print or screen share the activity.
DIRECTIONS FOR TOILETING
There are many steps involved in using the toilet in the bathroom. When a younger child is working on potty training or big kids are working on independent toileting, the steps are the same.
You need to pull down your pants and underwear. Sit on the toilet seat to go pee and poop. Wipe from front to back. Check for a clean bottom. Repeat steps as needed. Toss the toilet paper in the toilet. Flush and wash hands.
The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child
STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS FOR POTTY TRAINING AND WIPING
There are 10 potty training and wiping visuals to provide explicit instructions teaching how to wipe your own bottom. You may want to laminate them or place them in a page protector for durability.
Show the first visual to the child while saying the directions aloud. Point to each step as you say it.
- Go poop on the toilet.
- Get toilet paper.
- Wipe bottom.
- Check if toilet paper is clean.
- Put toilet paper in the toilet.
- Get more toilet paper.
- Wipe bottom again.
- Check if toilet paper is clean.
- Put toilet paper in the toilet.
- Flush the toilet.
Remind the child that they may need to repeat steps if the toilet paper is not clean. When the child is done, remind them to wash their hands with soap and water to prevent spreading germs. You can get free visuals for hand washing here.
Repeating the same steps over and over again, will help to reinforce the toilet training routine.
Depending upon the child, when the child is successful with potty training and wiping, praise him or her with lots of excitement and rewards. Sticker charts may be helpful.
Special Needs Toilet Training Handouts
SKILLS NEEDED FOR INDEPENDENT POTTY TRAINING AND WIPING
When you are working on independent potty training and wiping, keep in mind that there are many motor skills that are needed to accomplish this task.
Children need to be able to have:
- the sitting balance to reach over to get the toilet paper.
- the hand dexterity to tear off the correct amount of toilet paper.
- sitting balance to lean to one side to wipe their bottom.
- understand clean toilet paper.
- sensory registration or feedback of a clean bottom.
MODIFICATIONS FOR POTTY TRAINING AND WIPING
There are several ways to modify the environment to make these skills easier for the children such as providing:
- a foot stool to help with balance.
- rip off an appropriate amount of toilet paper squares and fold them for the child to prevent them from taking too much toilet paper.
- one step at a time for children who may have motor planning deficits.
- install a grab bar for a child to use when leaning to one side to help with sitting balance.
- use the visual supports below to help teach the skill.
- flushable wipes if the child is having trouble with the dry toilet paper.
The Practical Guide to Toilet Training Your Child With Low Muscle Tone
HOW TO PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR INDEPENDENT POTTY TRAINING AND WIPING
When potty training and wiping, it is important to encourage the child every step of the way!
Some encouragement phrases you can use are:
“Great job sitting on the toilet!”
“I see you ripped off the toilet paper!”
“Good job leaning to wipe your bottom!” or “Thank you for checking your bottom!”
Use a calm voice and keep encouraging the child until he or she is done potty training and wiping.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM USING THESE VISUALS FOR THE TOILET TRAINING PROCESS?
These are helpful for toddlers, big kids, and older children with special needs. A mom, dad, teacher, Occupational Therapist, nurse, and others can help children learn these step by step skills using the visuals.
The images are simple black and white objects so they are suitable for all ages.
If you want more information about fecal incontinence in children, you can read more here.
Bathroom Social Stories Boys OR Girls
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE POTTY TRAINING AND WIPING VISUAL SUPPORTS HERE
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